Paris polyphylla is a species of flowering plant native to China, the Indian Subcontinent, and Indochina.

[1] It produces spider-like flowers that throw out long, thread-like, yellowish green petals throughout most of the warm summer months and into the autumn.

[2] It is a perennial, which slowly spreads, is fully hardy in Britain, and survives in leafy, moist soil in either complete or partial shade.

The generic name Paris is derived from the word pars, or equal, which refers to the symmetry of the plant and the multiples of four in which its foliage, flowers, and fruits grow.

[9] As of May 2012[update] the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP) recognizes several varieties:[10][11] The Flora of China recognizes five additional varieties,[11] three of which are placed in different species by the WCSP:[10] Paris polyphylla prefers to grow in forests, bamboo forests, thickets, grassy or rocky slopes and stream sides.

[12] Soil nutrients like organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus were found in higher levels in areas where the plant was absent.

[12] If some part of the rhizome containing the bud is left underground, it is thought that the plant would become more sustainable and would help in conserving its population in the future.

[12] Paris polyphylla is considered to be a traded plant and it might have become less abundant in the past decade and this could be due to deforestation.

[2] The rhizome is then supposed to be covered with around 5 cm (2 in) of humus-rich soil which should not be allowed to dry out during the summer months.

[12] The seeds of this plant can remain dormant and this is thought to be because of changes of several endohormones, development of inhibiting substances, and the increase in material accumulation during the embryo's physiological ripening period.

[14] The fruit is a berry or berrylike capsule, in which the seeds are enclosed in a red succulent aril when ripe.

[4] The stem grows about a foot high and it is simple, erect, smooth, round and naked, except at the top.

The tepals, which are elements of the perianth that includes the petals and the sepals, are usually 3–5 mm in length, widen distally, and are narrowly spatulate.

[11] In this variety, the bisexual flower is solitary and is produced on an erect angular peduncle and it is about 2.5 cm long.

[12] However, no trade of Paris polyphylla occurs at present because it is banned for commercial collection as it falls under the Annapurna Conservation Area.